THA spends $3m in Tobago Carnival
Elizabeth W Allard Tobago Bureau
Monday, March 6th 2006
Trinidad Express

Close to $3 million was spent on Carnival in Tobago this year. Assistant Secretary for Community Development and Culture Wendell Berkley said the budget was bigger than last year, although final figures are still being calculated. He was speaking at last Thursday's THA Executive Council media briefing in Tobago. Berkley said he was satisfied that Tobago staged a successful Carnival. He said that in all aspects of the festival-calypso, pan and mas competition-there seemed to be movement toward wider participation with respect to the Carnival product. He noted there were new bands, band leaders and costumes this year.

The only disappointment, Berkley said, was that no Tobago pan sides were in the finals of the national competition.
However, plans are well on the way toward ensuring that Carnival 2007 is greater and better than 2006, he added.
It was also revealed that on March 11, the Community School for the Arts, in collaboration with the Creative Arts Centre, University of the West Indies, will be holding courses in acting, directing and drumming , in preparation for the upcoming Tobago Heritage Festival. The festival officially starts in July and comes to an end in August. Various groups are to set to benefit from this training programme. About 100 groups have already registered but there is still room for others who are interested.

You could view pictures in the Photo Gallery of Tobago 2k6 Carnival, I would be adding more soon...

Alfred, Stoute are King, Queen of the bands
Friday, March 3rd 2006, Tobago News

Kerry Alfred is the 2006 Tobago King of the Bands while Sarah Jane Stoute captured the Queen of the Bands title. The competition took place last week Friday night at the RBTT Redemption Sound Setters pan yard at Mt. Gomery. Alfred portrayed 'A Soca Warrior' from the band 'Let's Celebrate', while Stoute presented 'Mandi' from the band 'Splendour of Africa'. The NCBA staged event was full of colour and glitter as the Tobago mas bands presented their top individuals for Carnival 2K6 on stage.

A confident Lorenzo Smith from the band 'Caribbean Purity' grabbed the second place in the King of the Band contest, while Kester Davidson placed third with his 'Wings of Peace' from the band 'Scandalous'. Kamica Forbes from the band Let's Celebrate, placed second with her portrayal of 'The Peace I Bring'. Third place was taken by Eris Reid Goddess of Purity and Monica de Leon with the 'Impact of Shaw Park'.

Kareem Alfred portrayed the Greek Warlord 'Alexander the Great' to cop the Individual of the Band title in the male category, while Akil DeLeon secured the second place with his presentation of the 'Raging Heart of Shaw Park'. The third place was taken by Theron Stoute who portrayed 'The Witch Doctor.'

Cheryl Juzman portrayal of 'Tribute to Nature' was judged to be the Top Female Individual of the Year. Yvette Daniel's Caribbean 'Leaf of Peace and Love' was secured, while Candice Chung's 'Dance of the Tigress Queen' placed third. The Carnival Queen show, which took place on the same night, was won by Shalisha McDougal. Her costume 'Spirit of Carnival' won the best costume on the night. Leandra Jeffery placed second, while Abiola got the third place. The fourth place was taken by Suzette Solomon.

Sandy wins Junior Calypso Monarch
Friday, March 3rd 2006, Tobago News

Scarborough RC School pupil Garve Sandy is the new Tobago Junior Calypso Monarch. She won the title last week Thursday at the largest ever-Junior Carnival Extravaganza at the Dwight Yorke Stadium car park. Chief Secretary Orville London and Assistant Education Secretary Claudia Groome-Duke must have been proud to see the magnitude of the event, which was only certain to take place at the venue the day before.

Young Garve who is the daughter of former Tobago Calypso Monarch Lesley Ann Ellis took the title from defending monarch Jamal George of Bishop's High School. Sandy sang a strong nationalist tune. Tkeiah Alleyne, another Scarborough RC pupil who placed fourth in the National Junior Calypso contest a week ago was given 3rd place by the judges. Signal Hill Primary pupil Kern Warner got 4th place, while Mt Gomery Government representative Aschelle George won the 5th spot and Scarborough RC pupil Ajae Duncan came in 6th.

At the same event RBTT Junior pannists followed their seniors by capturing first place in the Tobago Junior Pan Finals. They rendered de Fosto's "Tribute to Clive Bradley". This was the same tune played by second placed winner, Black Rock Katzenjammers, while third placed Buccoo Buccooneers played Sparrow's vintage selection "Capitalism Gone Mad". Bishop's High School steelband and Carib Dixieland Juniors were jointly tied for 5th position. Roxborough Police Youth Club and Signal Hill Juniors were the next two bands in the contest and finished in that order.

Robinson wins hattrick
Friday, March 3rd 2006, Tobago News

Candice Robinson registered a hat trick of victories in the Windward Calypso Monarch contest when she captured the 2006 Windward Tobago Calypso Monarch title last week Saturday night at the Roxborough Sports Complex. Singing a nationalist flavoured selection, Robinson retained the title, which she held for the past two years. Giselle Fraser rendered a Rawle 'Axeback' Titus composition and got the second spot, while Calypsonian Bushy who got into the finals because of the controversy over the residential status of Lady IB, placed third. Lady IB was originally selected for the finals. Fourth place went to Yvonne Duke, Dane Chadband of Charlotteville placed fifth, while Squeeze, Calypso Max and Medicine finished in that order. Let's Celebrate', 'Shaw Park by Day and Night', 'Africa in it's Splendour', 'Caribbean Purity', 'Gems of Africa' and Calder Hall Mud Warriors were some of the Carnival mas bands, which brought the joys and spirit of carnival to the streets of Scarborough on Carnival Tuesday.

Rio wins Calypso Monarch
Friday, March 3rd 2006, Tobago News

Tobago Rio dethroned Lesley Ann Ellis as the reigning Tobago Calypso Monarch last week Wednesday night at the Kalamazoo Compound in Spring Garden. He will receive a car sponsored by Toyota Tobago.

Rio (Kenrick Andrews) registered his fifth victory in the competition, which he last won in 2000. He is the most respected Tobago-based Calypsonian and has thrilled calypso fans on the island for the past four decades. His win last week Wednesday is being hailed as a victory for the authentic calypso art.

The new Tobago Monarch is an ace composer and his big performances on the calypso tent circuit had set him up for his big win. He rendered 'At the End of the Day' and 'Viola'. His second song 'Viola' is a classic in authentic calypso in which he "advises his nephew how to choose a wife."

Lesley Ann Ellis placed second with her two selections 'Africa is that You' and 'Dear Diary' and will receive $30,000. Third placed winner Hollis Wright will receive $20,000. He is a seasoned campaigner and a former national monarch finalist came on strong with his two classics 'Independent Men' and 'Garage Sale'. He put on a splendid interpretation of the late Mighty Cypher's style in the 'Garage Sale' and was well appreciated by the crowd.

there always a little thing every Tobago Carnival, most times started by dem bon accord boys so called 'bajons'. The problem in Tobago is that there is too much fellas to girls. So, if you go to carnival with your girl you sure to get "pick on" and thats where the things starts most times.

if i recall they had a murder or stabbing in tobago crnival last year.

on a side note a trinidad off-duty police officer on trial right now for a murder of a teenager simply because he accident bounced him or mashed his food in a carnival fete.....you know when u go then fetes someebody bound to bounced into you or step on your foot because it does be so jam pack and no room to move above.

Thousands come out for Tobago Jouvert
Elizabeth W Allard Tobago Bureau
Tuesday, February 28th 2006, Trinidad Express

A number of Jouvert bands kicked off at 4 a.m. yesterday in uptown Scarborough, proceeding through the town. Several thousand Tobagonians came out for the celebration. Police were out in full force to keep the peace, and several people were taken into custody by officers, mainly for fighting and possession of dangerous weapons.

One police officer was stabbed in the process and was treated on the spot. Officers surrounded him and held one man for questioning. Thousands of people were out to enjoy the 2006 Carnival celebrations. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was also stationed at the First Citizens Bank car park as a medical post.

Several people were treated for minor injuries to the head, hands and legs. The community's Emergency Response Teams were out in full force also, addressing injuries as they came in. The eye in the sky was also visible from the Scarborough Port. For Carnival, 1,532 people are currently camping on the island at about 24 camp sites.

Rio wins Tobago kaiso crown
Earl Manmohan Scarborough
Monday, February 27th 2006, Trinidad Express

Tobago Rio is the new Calypso Monarch of Tobago. He dethroned Lesley Ann Ellis, the reigning monarch, at the Kalamazoo Compound in Spring Garden. He will receive a car sponsored by Toyota Tobago.

Rio (Kenrick Andrews), who has thrilled calypso fans on the island for the past four decades, registered his fifth victory in the competition, which he last won in 2000. He rendered "At the End of the Day" and "Viola."

Lesley Ann Ellis who placed second with her two selections "Africa is that You" and "Dear Diary" will receive $30,000.

Third placed winner Hollis Wright will receive $20,000. A former national monarch finalist, he came on strong with his two classics 'Independent Men' and 'Garage Sale'.

Tobago House of Assembly Panorama Finals 2006

Conventional Bands
1. RBTT Redemption Sound Setters - De Fosto's Tribute to Clive Bradley - 271 points
2. Katzenjammers - De Fosto's Tribute to Clive Bradley – 261.5 points; arranged by Urban Wiltshire
3. NLCB Buccaneers - Sparrow's Capitalism Gone Mad – 248 points; arranged by Vernon ‘Sel’ Dennis
4. Carib Dixieland - Destra Garcia’s Colours Again - 242 point; arranged by Eddie Quarless
5. West Side Symphony - Calypso Rose & Shurwayne Winchester’s Tempo Remix - 214 points; arranged by Tony ‘Pan Jumbie Willaims
6. T&TEC East Side New Dimension – DeFosto’s Tribute to Bradley - 205 points; arranged by Delbert ‘TuT’ Henry and Joseph Webster

Single Pan
1. Dem Boys - Lord Nelson's 'Ah Going and Party Tonight - 252 points; arranged Roger Sardina
2. Hope Pan Groovers – Superblue’s Get Something and Wave - 243 points; arranged by Tony ‘Pan Jumbie’ Williams
3. Tobago Panthers – David Rudder’s Dust In Yuh Face – 233 Points; arranged by Delbert ‘Tut” Henry
4. Metro Stars - Lord Nelson's 'Ah Going and Party Tonight – 228.5; arranged by Cary Codrington
4. Pan Fanatics – Superblue’s Get Something and Wave – 228.5; arranged by Gary straker
6. Natural Mystics – Crazy’s Nani Wine – 215.5; arranged by RickieWilliams

Leslie Ann Ellis wins Calypso Queen title
Friday, February 24th 2006, Tobago News

Leslie Ann Ellis registered her 6th victory in the TUCO Tobago Calypso Queen contest last Monday night at the Kalamazoo compound in Spring Garden.

Ellis who also won three Tobago Young King titles and one Tobago Monarch title up to the time of writing, blasted her challengers with the calypso 'Dear Diary'.

She was a finalist in the national calypso Monarch in 2005 and also was a contestant in the 2006 national calypso monarch semifinal last week Saturday at Skinner's Park.

The Tobago Calypso Queen told the Tobago News that she felt "very happy with the victory".

Wendy Thomas-Garrick, the defending Queen was second with the song 'Blood and Beers', and the Thomas family tree was kept in the 'money' when Wendy's sister Nicole placed third with her rendition of 'Bring Back'.

Yvonne Duke, 'The Dutchess' of Louis D'or got the fourth place with her rendition of the events in Bahrain in the World Cup qualification game. Windward Calypso Monarch Candice Robinson came in fifth.

Guest artistes on the show were former national calypso monarch Cro Cro, Hunter, Drummers of Tomorrow, Garvin Walters and Euphonic Sounds Steelband. Radio Tambrin's DJ MC Sticks was the programme's Master of Ceremonies.

Euphonic Sounds coming powerful for Carnival
Friday, February 24th 2006
Tobago News

Tobago is set to become part of the steelband revolution this carnival Monday when George Leacock, the ever innovative Radio Tambrin owner has joined forces with the William Nancis-led Euphonic Sounds steelband to bring high-powered amplified pan music on the streets on Carnival Monday.

For sometime now, steelband music, which once ruled the road on Carnival days has now taken a back seat to the power sound of DJs, but Leacock and Euphonic Sounds intend to change that situation.

Leacock told the Tobago News, "the Tambrin Sound System will be used to power Euphonic Sounds which will be playing their music from a trailer."

Nancis who leads the Euphonnic Sounds is one of Tobago's most brilliant pan arrangers, has scored some of the most sensational Panorama victories with the now defunct Symphony Stars is set and ready for the new move.

The band once tried the innovation with the sound system of the late Jerry Stewart some years ago.

CHAMPS AGAIN Sound Setters rules again
OPOKU WARE
Friday, February 24th 2006

RBTT Redemption Sound Setters, the pride of Bethel retained the THA Pan Champs title last Tuesday night at the Milford Road Esplanade. It was the ninth such title for the band.

However, Black Rock Katzenjammers mounted a strong challenge to the reigning champions, and many pan lovers felt that the Black Rock's band rendition of the Urban Wiltshire arrangement of De Fosto's 'Tribute to Clive Bradley' was much more musical and better executed than that of the RBTT-sponsored band.

Third placed NLCB Buccaneers also produced a highly musical Vernon Dennis arrangement of Sparrow's 'Capitalism Gone Mad'. The judges decision gave rise to the bmobile Our Boys decision to boycott the competition because there was not a limit to the amount of players in each band so that there would be a level playing field for all the bands competing in the contest. It was clear that the RBTT-sponsored band was by far the largest on the night and small bands such as Patience Hill West Side Symphony who played a brilliant rendition of Toby Williams' Calypso Rose and Shurwayne Winchester remake of Rose's 1978 road march 'Tempo', had no chance against the likes of Redemption Sound Setters. The same argument could be made for Carib Dixieland who did justice to Destra Garcia's 'Colours'.

Our Boys of Fort Street, the only 'town band' in the contest failed to turn up for the contest in protest against the failure of the Tobago Region of Pan Trinbago to place a limit on the amount of players in each band. It was evident that the power sound of the RBTT band could have swayed the decision in their favour. They played Winston Gordon's arrangement of De Fosto's Tribute to Clive Bradley was played with much spirit.

Mason Hall's Dem Boys arrangement of Lord Nelson's 'Party Tonight' in the Single Pan category was a musical masterpiece by arranger Roger Sardina. A former member of the now defunct Tobago All Stars, Roger spent a number of years on the North American musical circuit before returning home and since then, he has changed the fortunes of the Mason Hall band with his intricate and sophisticated musical style. Last Tuesday night there was absolutely no doubt that Roger's musical style had made Dem Boys the undisputed winners of the Single Pan category. Hope Pan Groovers gave a very good showing with Tony Williams' arrangement of Superblue's 1991 road march 'Get Something and Wave'. They were placed second.

The full results of the competition were as follows:

Conventional Bands: 1st RBTT Redemption Sound Setters - 271 points; 2nd Katzenjammers - 261½ points; 3rd NLCB Buccaneers - 248 points; 4th Carib Dixieland - 242 points; 5th West Side Symphony 214 points; 6th T&TEC East Side New Dimension - 205 points.

Single Pan Category: 1st Dem Boys - 252 points; 2nd Hope Pan Groovers - 243 points; 3rd Tobago Panthers; 4th (tie) Metro Stars and Pan Fanatics and 6th Natural Mystics.

Chief Secretary Orville London and Culture Secretary Cynthia Alfred were among the crowd, which took in the open-air show.

The Carnival action was expected to continue on Wednesday night with the Tobago calypso Monarch at the Kalamazoo compound at Spring Garden, while tonight (Friday) the action will move to the Redemption Sound Setters Pan tent for the King and Queen of the Bands and Individual competitions.

The 2006 Tobago Carnival Queen will all take place at the same time and place.

Police get TSTT Carnival IDs
Friday, February 17th 2006, Tobago News

As it has done in preceding years, TSTT presented the police service with 20,000 children's Carnival ID cards. The presentation was made at the Police Administration building - and is an ongoing commitment on the part of TSTT to provide parents and guardians with peace of mind at this hectic time of year. The ID cards are designed to provide children with identification in the event that they are separated from their parents or guardians during the Carnival celebrations. They are being distributed throughout the various police stations across Trinidad and Tobago for easy access by the public. The child's pertinent contact information, such as: name, address, phone number etc, should be written on the card, to ensure that the child can be swiftly and safely reunited with family members. TSTT says: 'Move with Us' this Carnival 2k6.

$2.5m FOR CARNIVAL..THA gives $2.5m for Carnival
Friday, February 17th 2006, Tobago News

MORE THAN $2.5 million has been allocated by the THA for the 2006 Carnival celebrations. Chairman of the Tobago Festivals Committee Garnet Peters indicated that discussions have already been held with the Carnival interest groups and dispersed the funding for their Carnival activities.

As the countdown for the Merry Monarch approaches, the efforts to stage the big Carnival shows are moving at full throttle. The THA steelband final is set for next Tuesday on the Scarborough Esplanade. Then on Wednesday at 8 p.m. the Tobago Calypso Monarch contest is schedule to come off at the Kalamazoo, Spring Garden while on Thursday the Junior Extravaganza is set for the Dwight Yorke Stadium car park at 10 a.m.

The Carnival Queen contest and the King and Queen of the Bands are set for Carnival Friday from 8 p.m. at the Redemption Sound Setters pan yard, Mt. Gomery. The big action on Carnival Saturday comes off at the Roxborough Sports Complex featuring the Afro Queen contest and the Windward Calypso Monarch contest. Then on Carnival Sunday, the Junior Mas bands will vie for prizes in the Junior Parade of Bands at the same venue in Roxborough.

The explosion of colour, glitter and pageantry is expected to explode on the streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday when a record number of mas bands are expected to hit the streets on both days. Among the bandleaders who are expected to make a big impact are Krystoff Alfred, Gloria Stoute, Lue-Ann Melville, Michelle Bedlow, Judith Nero, Monica de Leon and George Leacock. Peters is confident that the 2006 Carnival celebration will be the most exciting and most beautiful ever and he has echoed the call of Culture Secretary Cynthia Alfred to keep the festival clean and free from violence.

"I know what you mean"

Godspel for Tobago
Posted: Feb 5, 2006 8:25 am
Source: IslandEvents

The perfect alternative to Carnival is being staged in Tobago. The Godspel Festival, billed by promoters as "the greatest show on earth", will take place from Carnival Saturday to Monday.

The Festival will feature cultural art-forms such as steel pan music, gospelypso, chutney and rapso performances all with a gospel slant. "Among the many highlights of the programme is a series of competitions for church bands, gospelypso and gospel-chutney performers as well as rappers and dramatists."

A number of stalls and booths, showcasing local handicraft, church clothing and accessories, paraphernalia, food and information will form part of the backdrop to the show.Godspel for Tobago
Posted: Feb 5, 2006 8:25 am
Source: IslandEvents

The perfect alternative to Carnival is being staged in Tobago. The Godspel Festival, billed by promoters as "the greatest show on earth", will take place from Carnival Saturday to Monday.

The Festival will feature cultural art-forms such as steel pan music, gospelypso, chutney and rapso performances all with a gospel slant. "Among the many highlights of the programme is a series of competitions for church bands, gospelypso and gospel-chutney performers as well as rappers and dramatists."

A number of stalls and booths, showcasing local handicraft, church clothing and accessories, paraphernalia, food and information will form part of the backdrop to the show.

CARNIVAL LAUNCH on friday...Tobago launches Carnival Friday
Opoku Ware
Friday, February 3rd 2006
Tobago News

Carnival 2K6 will be launched today (Friday) at 6 p.m. at the Scarborough Market Square.

According to a member of the Tobago Festivals Committee, a full programme has been organised for the grand launch. The spokesperson told the Tobago News that a number of elements representing the old and modern aspects of Carnival would be portrayed.

Chief Secretary Orville London and Community Development and Culture Secretary Cynthia Alfred head the list of speakers at the event.

Pan Trinbago Tobago Region president Rennison Quashie said NLCB Buccaneers and Pan Fanatics will represent the Tobago steelband movement at the launch. The Windward Afro Queen contestants are also expected to make an appearance. The theme of the launch is entitled: 'Play Mas'. The committee spokesperson indicated that there would also be segments of old time traditional Carnival, including Wild Indians, Midnight Robbers and the Plymouth Warriors Speech Band.

The modern aspect of Carnival will be highlighted with a parade of costumed mas in a jump-up style.

The 2006 Tobago Carnival is expected to generate high excitement because more Tobagonians are planning to stay in Tobago for Carnival because of the high level of violence in Trinidad.

There are indications that a growing number of Trinidadians and foreign visitors are expected to be in Tobago to experience the relatively peaceful Tobago Carnival.

The newly formed Tobago Festivals Committee has begun to formulate plans for the expected bumper Tobago Carnival with the aid of Carnival interest groups and other Carnival stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Scarborough Council has issued a call to all business operators in the capital to decorate their business houses for the celebrations and to consider hosting pre-carnival activities.

It is also understood that a number of Tobago music bands have submitted their proposals to the new Festivals Committee, which includes participating on the road so that the public could experience live music.

It was also revealed that steelbands, which were absent from the road on Carnival days, are making serious attempts for their presence to be felt in 2K6. One such steelband is the William Nancis-led Euphonic Sounds. The popular small band is making every effort to play music on the streets of Scarborough. Also, there are ongoing efforts led by ace pan tuner Neville 'Bassa' Muraldo to revive former Tobago Single Pan champs Rhythm Tigers. The band has now been relocated to the Calder Hall Community Centre and the bandleader has issued an urgent call for pannist and interested persons to register with the Calder Hall Community Council as they desperately try to get the band on the road for Carnival 2K6.

Meanwhile preliminary judging for this year's Steelband Panorama begins in Tobago tomorrow (Saturday) with Tobago Pan-Thers, Dem Boys, Hope Pan Groovers and West Side.

On Sunday the judges will be at Natural Mystic, Pan Fanatics and Metro Stars. Tuesday judging will be at Katzenjammers, RBTT Redemption Sound Setters and Our Boys, while on Wednesday they will be at NLCB Buccooneers, Carib Dixieland and T&TEC New East Side Dimension.

and thing start Tobago Carnival 2006

Tobago Region
Single Bands Category - Saturday February 4, 2006
Position Band Tune (Calypsonian) Arranger Panyard Time
1 Tobago Pan-Thers Dust In Yuh Face(David Rudder) Delbert Henry Sea View Trace, Golden Lane Tobago 7:00PM
2 Dem Boys Ah Going & Party Tonight(Lord Nelson) Roger Sardinha Mason Hall Tobago 8:00PM
3 Hope Pan Groove Say Say(Baron) Tony "Pan Jumbie" Williams Hope Village, Tobago 8:45PM

Small Bands Category - Saturday February 4, 2006
Position Band Tune (Calypsonian) Arranger Panyard Time
1 West Side Symphony Down San Fernando(Calypso Rose) Tony Williams Patience Hill, Tobago 9:30PM

Single Bands Category - Sunday February 5, 2006
Position Band Tune (Calypsonian) Arranger Panyard Time
1 Natural Mystic Nanny Wine(Crazy) Rickie Williams Patience Hill Tobago 7:00PM
2 Pan Fanatics Get Something & Wave(Super Blue) Gary Straker Mason Hall Tobago 8:00PM
3 Metro Stars Party Tonight(Lord Nelson) Cary Codrington Todd Street, Pembroke, Tobago 9:15PM

Large Bands Category - Tuesday February 7, 2006
Position Band Tune (Calypsonian) Arranger Panyard Time
1 Katzenjammers Bradley(De Fosto) Auburn Wiltshire Black Rock, Tobago 7:00PM
2 RBTT Redemption Soundsetters Bradley(De Fosto) Winston Gordon Montgomery Road, Bethel, Tobago 8:00PM
3 Our Boys Good Times (Denyse Plummer) Clifford Alexis Kirk St. Scarborough, Tobago 9:15PM

Medium Bands Category - Wednesday February 8, 2006
Position Band Tune (Calypsonian) Arranger Panyard Time
1 NLCB Buccooneers Capitalism Gone Mad(Sparrow) Vernon (Sel) Dennis Chance St, Bauccoo, Tobago 7:00PM
2 Carib Dixieland Colours Again(Destra) Edison Quarless Mt. Pleasant, Tobago 8:00PM
3 T&TEC New East Side Dimension Bradley(De Fosto) Delbert Henry,Joseph Webster Winward Main Road, Belle Garden, Tobago 9:15PM

Bandleader Lue-Ann Melville to bring own mas band
Friday, January 27th 2006, Tobago News
http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/article?id=5510177

Female bandleader Lue-Ann Melville who led her Roxborough based mas band to the first runner-up in the 2005 Tobago Parade of Bands is now organising her band on her own. The band's mas camp is now located at Robert Street, Roxborough.

For 2006 Lou-Ann whose mother was a mas bandleader is being assisted in producing by her sister Shelly, family members and friends. The 'Purity of The Caribbean' is the name of the band, and the youthful bandleader made this most important point. She said: "What we do is to make all our costumes in Tobago, we do not go to Trinidad to get costumes. We believe it is important to create our own Tobago mas industry. So anyone could come to our mas camp and learn to build costumes."

However, she lamented how difficult was to produce a mas band in the Windward area because everyone wanted a costume free.

"We want everyone to know that it costs money to build costumes, so we would like everyone to make an effort to purchase costumes so that our band can grow from strength to strength," she added.

We can't wait to see Gordon's Work, and you know we would have the pics here for oue members.

New mas designer hits the streets
Tobago News, Monday, January 23rd 2006

A new mas designer is set to hit the streets of Tobago for Carnival 2006.

Aviann Gordon, a former model has taken a step away from the glamorous catwalks of fashion modeling to a more behind the scene career of designing.

Gordon's entry into Tobago mas fraternity could add a new dimension to Tobago Carnival, as she has been able to draw persons, who would normally shy away from playing mas in the island.

According to Gordon, her band called "Frolic Central" comprises eight sections and she has planned a big band launch for next week Friday at the T&TEC Sports Club on Gardenside Street, Scarborough.

Free Carnival shows
Tobago News, Monday, January 16th 2006

This year's major Carnival shows are to be held at the car park of the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Community Development and Culture Secretary Cynthia Alfred revealed at last week's post Executive Council press conference.

Similarly, the main shows for the Tobago Heritage Festival in July would also be held there since the Shaw Park Cultural Complex would not be available until next year.

Chief Secretary Orville London who sat in at the conference said this would give people an opportunity to celebrate Carnival with a difference and to attend some of the shows free of charge. Alfred who said events would also be held along the Esplanade disclosed the composition of the new 14-member Tobago Festivals Committee to stage Carnival, which is less than two months away, the Heritage Festival in July and any other festival in the island in 2006.

Alfred told reporters that the committee will plan/manager and execute the activities relative to the festivals and in the case of Carnival must to do in conjunction with the major stakeholders Pan Trinbago, Tobago United Calypso Organisation (TUCO) and the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) Tobago Branch. She said TUCO had already submitted its Carnival budget and the other organisations would be invited to do so as soon as possible.

Alfred stressed that the committee was also mandated to ensure that productions were of a high standard and that where necessary marketing was to be done locally, regionally and internationally.

The committee is headed by retired school principal Garnet Peters who was chairman of the now defunct Tobago Carnival Committee (CDC). Other members are Pan Trinbago Tobago representative and the only defeated PNM candidate in the last THA election Rennison Quashie, vice chairman and PRO; Toby James, treasurer; Robert Marshall, Pearl Beache, Victoria Mitchell, Grace Dennis, Roxborough Police Youth Club liaison officer and Sgt Collis Hazel, members. The remaining members are to represent the Tourism, Transportation, Enterprise Development and Settlements Division, Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Division, Health and Social Services Division and the Infrastructure and Public Utilities Division, as well as the Fire and Police Services.

The life of the committee expires on October 31 this year with the option to be extended if necessary.

Alfred disclosed that Community Development Department supervisor Irene Beache and Cultural Officer II are ex-officio members.

Alfred stated that the committee was free to co-opt persons as it deemed necessary for the effective/efficient administration of the festivals.